0) My Favourite: Arsenal
10 out of 10 : Arsene Wenger was happy with his fourth place trophy and Mikel Arteta has got us into that position after a very slow and poor start to the season. I heard Pep Guardiola say that he is worried about Arsenal as we are the best in the country "at the moment".
1) My Premier League Pick: Brentford
10 out of 10 : My boys are new to the Premier League and have given a good account of themselves in every match. Sometimes we have been unlucky and sometimes we have just lacked the touch that marks the difference between the top players and the average players. I am so proud of these boys and now we are playing with many squad members injured.
2) My Championship Pick: AFC Bournemouth
9 out of 10 : My boys may be top of the league but there have been moments when the boys lacked concentration and chances were missed. I am still happy that I picked them even though the reason for their selection was a man now taking his coaching badges at Arsenal. Billing and Anthony are well supported by Lerma and Cahill. I will remember "that block" by Steve Cook for some time and I have enjoyed my "Brentford Boy" Emiliano Marcondes whenever he has taken to the field.
3) My League One Pick: Cheltenham Town
8 out of 10 : A mid table position for a newly promoted club is a good place to be with half the season still to go. There is time to go up and time to go down and perhaps the January transfer window could make all the difference. Losing your captain to Wrexham is not the best but I hope he goes on the journey that he thinks they are on. I have not seen enough of my team to form a first hand opinion but time will tell. Give them more time.
4) My League Two Pick: Exeter City
7 out of 10: I kind of have to pick my home city even though I have moved outside the boundary now. I get reports from time to time from a friend of mine who actually attends matches and he was not enamoured with a long string of draws but that has put us in the playoff places and there is no problem with that at this stage of the season. I think that there is no money in the club for transfers this January but winning on a shoestring is an art and this club is artful.
5) My National League Pick: Weymouth
5 out of 10: I watch videos on You Tube and read reports and there seems to be a good set of players perhaps not maximising their potential. They seem to be in competition with Southend United (recently relegated) for that third relegation position. That should keep the interest for the second half of the season. The struggle is not over and I wish them every success in remaining at LEVEL 5 of the Football Pyramid.
6) My National League South Pick: Bath City
6 out of 10: There does seem to be plenty of coverage for me to read and watch which pleases me greatly. The club have got many projects going to involve the community and they are competing well in the league although they are in the bottom half of the table at the moment. I remain to see whether there will be any new players in January but I have watched the players in and out. Bath are the best club in keeping me informed. They will probably retain my vote for next season.
7) My Southern League Premier Division South Pick: Tiverton Town
4 out of 10: These boys have had good experience at this level for a few seasons now and although they have had a management change they are languishing close to the relegation zone. I keep hearing the names Matt Wright and Olaf Koszela so my main wish is that other players start contributing to the goals but I am aware that pushing players forward can cost you goals at the back. I still have not visited their home ground despite following them for many seasons now. Maybe 2022 will be the year.
8) My Southern League Division One South Pick: Willand Rovers
7 out of 10: The club are in a pack of teams near the relegation zone but have ten points lead over the actual relegation places. This should see the club retain their position in the pyramid and I expect them to compete at this level again next season. The two names that keep coming up in these reports are Alfie Moulden and Louis Jagger-Cane so once again I want to see more players getting themselves on the scoresheet. Coverage has been much better this season than in previous years but that may be just me. Nice neat match reports now.
9) My Western League Premier Division Pick: Exmouth Town
9 out of 10: Exmouth are in seventh place but if they win their two games in hand they will be in second place barring something special by Mousehole. Tavistock seem to be well ahead and should take the league barring a collapse in form. These boys remain my special favourites as I have enjoyed every match I watched live at Southern Road. We even looked at property in Exmouth before we moved the other way. They take the award for the best named player on the pitch, Ace High.
10) My South West Peninsula League Premier Division East Pick: Bovey Tracey
6 out of 10: A team that seem to blow hot and cold in alternate spells. They are near the bottom of the league but the two teams in the relegation zone have been left a long way behind. My plan before COVID was to spend a lot more time watching from the tiny grandstand that keeps the rain off and then enjoy a beer in the bar but for now I follow the team as my level 10 pick and hope that they can retain their position for next season.
11) My Devon League North & East Division Pick: Liverton United
4 out of 10: I saw my boys a few times last season but this year I have stayed away rather than risk the infection that is now rife in the country. The team are third from bottom but I think this league is still building and will keep any team that wants to continue competing at this level. Promotion is to the South West Peninsula League and that is out of the question this season so once again my hope is that they boys retain their level in the pyramid.
